This is Sportstar's match blog of the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg featuring Liverpool and Real Madrid on Wednesday.
That's it for today. Thanks for tuning in!
The 2020-21 UCL semifinals first leg fixtures will take place on April 27 (Tuesday) and 28 (Wednesday), while the second leg matches are scheduled for May 4 (Tuesday) and 5 (Wednesday).
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Real Madrid CF beats Liverpool FC 3-1 on aggregate to advance to the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League semifinals. Zinedine Zidane's team will take on Chelsea FC in its last-four tie.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:
AND IT IS FULL TIME! FINAL SCORE: LIVERPOOL 0 - 0 REAL MADRID!!!
90' Four minutes of stoppage time to be added on at the end of the second half! Thiago Alcantara splits the Real Madrid defence with a wonderful pass towards Mohamed Salah. However, the Liverpool winger's shot is saved well by Thibaut Courtois.
87' ANOTHER CHANCE FOR LIVERPOOL! Thiago Alcantara receives a good pass from Georginio Wijnaldum and rushes forward. He tries to release Andy Robertson up front with a through-ball. But he puts too much power on the pass as Real Madrid gets a goal-kick.
84' It's been all Liverpool in the second half, barring a couple of Real Madrid chances. The home side has dominated the possession, passing and attacking stats during the final 45 minutes of the match.
81' A SUBSTITUTION FOR EITHER SIDE! Actually, Liverpool has two here. Jurgen Klopp introduces Xherdan Shaqiri and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain into the game. Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino exit the field. Meanwhile, Marco Asensio makes way for Isco for Zinedine Zidane's team.
78' CLOSE! Roberto Firmino dribbles past a few Real Madrid defenders and gets into the box. But his shot is deflected away for a corner. Robertson's set-piece isn't effective as Liverpool wastes yet another opportunity.
75' CORNER FOR REAL MADRID! Luka Modric is on set-piece duty now since Kroos is off the pitch. However, Modric's delivery is poor as the Liverpool defence clears the ball away with ease.
72' DOUBLE CHANGE FOR REAL MADRID NOW! Head Coach Zinedine Zidane decides to bring on Rodrygo and Alvaro Odriozola to replace Vinicius Junior and Toni Kroos, respectively, on the field.
69' WHAT A CHANCE FOR LIVERPOOL! The Reds began a quick counter-attack after a Vinicius Junior chance at the other end. Robertson sent a ball across from the left. Salah somehow got to it and crossed it towards Roberto Firmino, who wasn't able to get a shot away from the edge of the box.
66' VERY CLOSE! Liverpool could have scored here. Sadio Mane sends a dangerous cross into the box. But Nacho Fernandez averts the danger for Real Madrid. Andy Robertson then took a corner from the left. However, he wasn't able to deliver the ball into the middle with pin-point accuracy.
63' FOUL! One of Klopp's two recent substitutions, Thiago Alcantara, fouls Luka Modric in midfield. The referee lets him go with just a warning.
60' YELLOW CARD & SUBSTITUTION FOR LIVERPOOL! LFC centre-back Nathaniel Phillips is booked by the referee for a mistimed tackle on Real Madrid's Casemiro. A few moments later, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp brings on Diogo Jota and Thiago Alcantara to replace Ozan Kabak and James Milner, respectively.
57' CHANCE FOR LIVERPOOL! Roberto Firmino gets to a cross from Mohamed Salah. He fires a shot on target. But the ball is pretty close to Courtois, who makes a straightforward save.
54' CROSS! Real Madrid full-back Ferland Mendy dribbles past an opposition player and tries to send a cross into the box from the left wing. But he is intercepted by Liverpool's Fabinho before that.
51' CHANCE FOR REAL MADRID! Karim Benzema comes up with another wonderful move up front. But just as he entered the box, he took too many touches as Liverpool regained possession.
48' CORNER FOR LIVERPOOL! Trent Alexander-Arnold will take this one. He sends a swinging cross into the middle. Roberto Firmino connects with a header but Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois pulls off a wonderful save to deny the Reds.
THE SECOND HALF IS UNDERWAY!
There were lots of opportunities to score for Jurgen Klopp's team but the attackers haven't utilised them well. Even Zinedine Zidane's side could have scored in the opening 45 minutes. However, the score is still 0-0. Forty-five minutes to go. Stay tuned!
Liverpool needs to score at least two goals tonight. Since it has an away goal from the first leg, a 2-0 win will help Liverpool advance to the semifinals. Meanwhile, a goal from Real Madrid might put the home team under immense pressure here.
AND IT'S HALF TIME! SCORE: LIVERPOOL 0 - 0 REAL MADRID!!!
45' Two minutes of stoppage time to be added on at the end of the first half! Liverpool is attacking with intent here. However, the home team has no goals to show for it. Real Madrid has defended well so far.
42' WHAT A MISS! Trent Alexander-Arnold sets up Georginio Wijnaldum inside the box after evading a few tackles from opposition defenders. But the Liverpool midfielder fires his shot well over the post. A glorious opportunity wasted.
38' CHANCE FOR LIVERPOOL! Trent Alexander-Arnold receives a pass from the other half. He controls it well and decides to send a through-ball towards Sadio Mane up front. But he puts too much power on the pass as Real Madrid wins a goal-kick.
34' CROSS! James Milner takes the ball forward on the right flank for Liverpool. He attempts to send a cross into the box. However, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois comes off his line to collect the ball.
30' FOUL! Sadio Mane pulls Eder Militao from behind. Real Madrid gets a free-kick. Liverpool needs to score here. It is down 1-3 on aggregate and needs to put more pressure on Real Madrid.
27' COUNTER-ATTACK! Liverpool loses the ball cheaply in midfield. Real Madrid initiates a counter and has numbers forward. However, the LFC defence is able to clear the ball away.
24' COUPLE OF YELLOW CARDS! Casemiro comes up with a terrible sliding tackle on Liverpool's James Milner. The referee immediately books the Real Madrid defensive midfielder. He also hands a card to LFC full-back Andy Robertson for excessive argument.
21' WHAT A CHANCE! Karim Benzema hits the post for Real Madrid. He made a brilliant run towards goal after receiving the ball in midfield. The Madrid striker cut past Liverpool defender Ozan Kabak and took a shot. The ball kissed the crossbar.
18' FREE-KICK FOR LIVERPOOL! Trent Alexander-Arnold will take this one for the Reds. But his cross into the middle is a poor one as the ball goes out for a goal-kick.
16' FOUL! Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior brings down Sadio Mane on the right wing with a very late challenge. The referee doesn't give him a card though.
13' OFFSIDE! Sadio Mane is a little too eager to get to the pass from his LFC teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold and the linesman raises his flag for offside. The referee awards Los Blancos a free-kick.
10' CORNER FOR MADRID! Toni Kroos is on set-piece duty here. He decides to go for a short pass. But the move doesn't work out as Liverpool averts the danger.
7' BLOCK! Liverpool skipper James Milner takes a shot from outside the box. Real Madrid defender Eder Militao intercepts the ball and regains possession for his side.
4' VERY CLOSE! Sadio Mane makes a good move on the left flank for Liverpool. But his cross into the box through the ground misses Roberto Firmino by a whisker.
2' INJURY! Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema goes down to the ground after a challenge from Liverpool midfielder James Milner. However, he's fine to continue.
AND THE MATCH BEGINS!
The team lineups are out!
LIVERPOOL - Alisson (G), Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ozan Kabak, Nathaniel Phillips, Andy Robertson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Fabinho, James Milner (C), Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane.
COACH: Jurgen Klopp.
REAL MADRID - Thibaut Courtois (G), Federico Valverde, Eder Militao, Nacho Fernandez, Ferland Mendy, Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Luka Modric, Marco Asensio, Karim Benzema (C), Vinicius Junior.
COACH: Zinedine Zidane.
Injury News - The home team Liverpool FC from the Premier League will be without the likes of Virgil van Dijk (Knee), Joel Matip (Ankle), Joe Gomez (Knee) and captain Jordan Henderson (Groin) in today's match due to various injuries.
The visitor Real Madrid CF from the La Liga will miss the services of skipper Sergio Ramos (Muscle injury), Eden Hazard (Ankle), Dani Carvajal (Muscle), Lucas Vazquez (Knee) and Raphael Varane, who had tested positive for the coronavirus.
First Leg Results - Real Madrid holds a 3-1 aggregate lead in this 2020-21 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal tie after beating Liverpool at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium last week.
Meanwhile, Edin Terzic-managed Borussia Dortmund will host Manchester City in the other last-eight encounter tonight. Pep Guardiola's Man City holds a 2-1 aggregate advantage in that tie.
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